Wartburg Knights men's basketball

Last updated
Wartburg Knights
Wartburg Knights logo.svg
Head coach Sam Leal (1st season)
Conference ARC
Location Waverly, Iowa
Arena Levick Arena
(Capacity: 2,000)
Nickname Knights
ColorsOrange and Black [1]
   
Uniforms
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Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts blacksides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Home
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Kit body basketball.svg
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Away


NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1987
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1975, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2017
NCAA tournament appearances
1975, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2017
Conference tournament champions
2001, 2017
Conference regular season champions
1952, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2006

The Wartburg Knights men's basketball team represents the Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, United States. The team is a member of the American Rivers Conference as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The team plays its regular season games in Levick Arena, along with women's basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams.

Contents

History

Wartburg men's basketball began in 1935, under head coach Elmer Hertel. The first Wartburg team finished 12–3 in 1935–36, its first victory was a 33-24 win against Lenox College. Hertel coached the first 3 seasons in the programs history. Since Hertel, Wartburg has had a total of 13 head coaches, the majority of the seasons coached by Buzz Levick and Dick Peth. [2] Following his retirement the

Lewis "Buzz" Levick era (1965-1993)

Buzz Levick was named the head coach in 1965 and would go on to coach 28 seasons for the Knights. During his tenure he would led the Knights to 14 IIAC regular season titles, 9 of which would come in a row from 1967-1975. [3] Following his retirement, the colleges new arena, built in 2008, would be named in his honor, Levick Arena. [4]

Dick Peth era (1997-2024)

Dick Peth took over the Wartburg men's basketball program in 1997. During his tenure at Wartburg he has led them to three regular season Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, including back to back in 2005 and 2006. In 2017 his Wartburg Knight basketball team shocked the conference by winning the IIAC tournament as the tournament's 6th seed. [5] They would go on to reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, upsetting #10 Benedictine College and #4 UW-River Falls in the first and second rounds. [6] In December 2021, Peth entered the 600 win club following Wartburg's 82–70 win against University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. [7] In April 2024, Peth announced his retirement after 27 seasons at the helm. [8]

Sam Leal era (2024-present)

Sam Leal was announced as the 13th head men's basketball coach in Wartburg history on May 1, 2024. [9]

NCAA tournament results

Wartburg has appeared in 7 NCAA Tournaments with a record of 7–8. [10]

YearRankRoundOpponentResult
1975 First Round
Sweet Sixteen		Coe
Augustana (Ill)		W 79-78
L 61−62
1987 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Gustavus Adolphus
North Park		W 91-81
W 74-72
L 63-88
1989 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional Third Place		Gustavus Adolphus
Nebraska Wesleyan
Pomona-Pitzer		W 78-62
L 63-87
L 67-80
1991 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		Bye
Central (IA)
Calvin		-
W 75-73
L 57-61
1993 First RoundSt John's (MN)L 75-80(OT)
2001 13First Round
Second Round		Bye
Illinois Wesleyan		-
L 60-65
2017 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#10 Benedictine(ILL)
#4 UW-River Falls
Augustana (Ill)		W 92-66
W 76-43
L 69-80

Head Coaching Records

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Wartburg Knights (no conference)(1935–1936)
1935–1936Elmer Hertel 12-3
Wartburg Knights (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1935–2018)
1936–1937Elmer Hertel 8-5
1937–1938Elmer Hertel 8-7
Elmer Hertel:28-15
1938–1939 Ralph McKinzie 3-11
1939–1940 Ralph McKinzie 1-13
Ralph McKinzie:4-24
1940–1941C.C. Van Dyke 3-12
1941–1942C.C. Van Dyke 1-13
1942–1943C.C. Van Dyke 5-8
C.C. Van Dyke:9-33
1943–1944Elmer Hertel 8-8
1944–1945Elmer Hertel 11-8
Elmer Hertel:47-30
1977–1978William Roselius 5-15
William Roselius:5-15
1946–1947 Stanley Hall 8-9
Stanley Hall:8-9
1947–1948Axel Bundgaard 6-11
1948–1949Axel Bundgaard 8-11
1949–1950Axel Bundgaard 8-13
1950–1951Axel Bundgaard 13-9
1951–1952Axel Bundgaard 17-71st
1952–1953Axel Bundgaard 14-8
1953–1954Axel Bundgaard 15-8
1954–1955Axel Bundgaard 17-91st
Axel Bundgaard:98-76
1955–1956Earnest Opperman 17-8
Earnest Opperman:17-8
1956–1957Axel Bundgaard 19-8
1957–1958Axel Bundgaard 16-9
1958–1959Axel Bundgaard 21-51st
1959–1960Axel Bundgaard 18-71st
1960–1961Axel Bundgaard 15-9
Axel Bundgaard:187-114
1961–1962Fred Jaspers 6-18
1962–1963Fred Jaspers 13-12
1963–1964Fred Jaspers 11-12
1964–1965Fred Jaspers 12-10
Fred Jaspers:42-52
1965–1966Buzz Levick 12-1010-6
1966–1967Buzz Levick 19-710-41st NAIA First Round
1967–1968Buzz Levick 22-315-11st
1968–1969Buzz Levick 25-115-01st NAIA First Round
1969–1970Buzz Levick 26-313-21st NAIA Sweet Sixteen
1970–1971Buzz Levick 19-812-41st
1971–1972Buzz Levick 18-513-21st
1972–1973Buzz Levick 21-813-21st NAIA First Round
1973–1974Buzz Levick 23-514-21st NAIA First Round
1974–1975Buzz Levick 22-612-21st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1975–1976Buzz Levick 13-137-7
1976–1977Buzz Levick 19-610-4
1977–1978Buzz Levick 19-710-4
1978–1979Buzz Levick 10-144-11
1979–1980Buzz Levick 18-89-5
1980–1981Buzz Levick 14-128-6
1981–1982Buzz Levick 16-99-5
1982–1983Buzz Levick 21-510-41st
1983–1984Buzz Levick 14-1510-5
1984–1985Buzz Levick 12-146-8
1985–1986Buzz Levick 17-99-6
1986–1987Buzz Levick 19-912-41st NCAA Elite Eight
1987–1988Buzz Levick 15-118-8
1988–1989Buzz Levick 21-813-31st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1989–1990Buzz Levick 17-912-5
1990–1991Buzz Levick 23-513-31st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1991–1992Buzz Levick 15-108-9
1992–1993Buzz Levick 18-813-41st First Round
Buzz Levick:527-236
1993–1994Howard Gauthier 14-118-8
1994–1995Howard Gauthier 13-1110-7
1995–1996Howard Gauthier 12–138-9
Howard Gauthier:39-35
1996–1997 Marty Simmons 10-147-9T-7th
Marty Simmons:10-14
1997–1998 Dick Peth 16-913-7
1998–1999 Dick Peth 13-1211-10
1999–2000 Dick Peth 12-1210-10
2000–2001 Dick Peth 24-417-11st NCAA Second Round
2001–2002 Dick Peth 20-814-42nd
2002–2003 Dick Peth 21-714-42nd
2003–2004 Dick Peth 20-811-5T–2nd
2004–2005 Dick Peth 23–515-11st
2005–06 Dick Peth 19-612-41st
2006–07 Dick Peth 11-155-116th
2007–2008 Dick Peth 9-166-107th
2008–09 Dick Peth 15-138-84th
2009–10 Dick Peth 15-128–86th
2010–11 Dick Peth 10-145-118th
2011–12 Dick Peth 11-145-117th
2012–13 Dick Peth 15-128–64th
2013–14 Dick Peth 13-137-7T–5th
2014–15 Dick Peth 15-136-85th
2015–16 Dick Peth 16-118-6T-2nd
2016–17 Dick Peth 21-108–8T–5th NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2017–18 Dick Peth 17-109-7T-4th
Wartburg Knights (American Rivers Conference)(2018–Present)
2018–19 Dick Peth 17-911-53rd
2019–20 Dick Peth 12-157-9T-5th
2020–21 Dick Peth 4-72-47thPostseason not held due to COVID-19
2021–22 Dick Peth 16–109–7T–4th
2022–23 Dick Peth 11–158–85th
2023–24 Dick Peth 3–222–14T–8th
Dick Peth:401–302
2024–2025 Sam Leal 0–0
Sam Leal:0–0
Total:

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Current coaching staff

[11]

Head coaching history

As of the completion of 2024 season [12]

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1935-1938
1943-1945		Elmer Hertel547–30.610
1938–1939 Ralph McKinzie 24–24.143
1940–1943C.C. Van Dyke39–33.214
1945–1946William Roselius15–15.250
1946–1947Stanley Hall18–9.471
1947–1955
1956-1961		Axel Bundgaard13187–114.621
1955–1956Earnest Opperman117–8.680
1961–1965Fred Jaspers442–52.447
1965–1993Lewis "Buzz" Levick29527–236.691
1993–1996Howard Gauthier339–35.527
1996–1997 Marty Simmons 110–14.527
1997–2024 Dick Peth 27401–302.570
2024–Present Sam Leal 10–0–
Totals13 coaches–

† Kathy Franken served as the interim head coach for the end of the 2005-2006 season following the departure of Monica Severson.

Individual awards

Conference Awards

Conference Awards [13]
YearPlayerType
1969-70GE BuenningMost Valuable Player
1971-72Dave PlatteMost Valuable Player
1974-75Bud JohnsonMost Valuable Player
1988-89Mike MurphyMost Valuable Player
1992-93Matt LearyMost Valuable Player
2000-01Troy OsterhausMost Valuable Player
2004-05Nate SchmidtMost Valuable Player

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References

  1. ↑ "Brand Guidlines Wartburg College" (PDF). Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Wartburg Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). go-knights.net. Wartburg Athletics. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Maly, Ron. "Buzz Levick". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines Register. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Lewis "Buzz" Levick". wcfcourier.com. The Courier. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "2016-17 Iowa Conference Men's Basketball Tournament - American Rivers Conference". rollrivers.com.
  6. ↑ "College men's basketball: Wartburg on to Sweet 16, 76-43". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier.
  7. ↑ "Peth nets 600th win". December 10, 2021 – via www.d3hoops.com.
  8. ↑ "Wartburg's Peth to retire". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. April 3, 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Petrik, Ethan (May 1, 2024). "College men's basketball: Wartburg tabs Leal as Knights' next head coach". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "Men's Basketball". Wartburg College Athletics.
  11. ↑ "Men's Basketball Coaches".
  12. ↑ "Wartburg Knights Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Wartburg Knights. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Conference Awards - American Rivers Conference".
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